TROG Flabob Airport Drags ’23
April 2023 • By Tony Thacker • Photos by Holly Martin/Metal and Speed & Tony Thacker
Presented by HandHFlatheads.com & USAutomotive.co.uk
It’s barely six months since we attended the inaugural Flabob Airport Drags organized by Mel Stultz creator of The Race of Gentlemen. The December ’22 event, held at the Flabob Airport near Riverside, California, was killer, no doubt due to a lot of pent-up desire as a result of Covid lockdowns. People just wanted to get out—simple as that. However, to have another event in less than six months might have been a stretch in the jaded Los Angeles market where enthusiasts have so many events to choose from, many of which are free. Nevertheless, despite some heavy rain just a couple days prior, the sun shone on Mel and his team.
Images by Holly Martin/Metal and Speed
The set up was a little different this year with many of the show cars parked outside the main area, a smaller swap meet, very few vendors but a lot of traditional hot rods racing. Mel said 250 signed up and I have to think there were probably 200 on site and they put on an inspiring, non-stop show. Racers came from as far north as Portland, Oregon and Washington State and Stefan Immke came all the way from Cologne, Germany, and went on to win the dragster class.
Other winners included Timmy McMaster of Hanford Auto and Machine who won the flathead class, Robert Ruiz who won the ohv class in his rpm, ‘Riverside’ Johnny won the 4-banger class and Stefan Immke won the dragster class.
I have to hope this event becomes annual and as we went to press, TROG announced dates for their signature Wildwood, New Jersey, event. The beach race that started it all is scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 1. You can learn more at TheRaceofGentlemen.com
